Jonathan Bachman Associated Press Jaguars lineman Cameron Bradfield (78) can't stop Saints defensive end Will Smith from getting Blaine Gabbert on this play on Aug. 17. But the versatile Bradfield has played well enough that he's the starter at right tackle.

This is a 2012 photo of Kendrick Adams of the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL football team. This image reflects the Jacksonville Jaguars active roster as of Wednesday June 13, 2012 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

A year ago at this time, Cameron Bradfield was worried about getting a job.

Now, he’s got to concentrate on doing the job.

As an undrafted free agent last year during the lockout, Bradfield spent three months after the draft wondering about his future.

“I was in a state of limbo,” he said. “I talked to some teams during the draft. After the draft until the lockout ended, there was no contact allowed. I had a pretty good idea that I was going to get picked up somewhere, but you never really know until it happens.”

As a Division II player from Grand Valley State, he wasn’t invited to the NFL combine, but he was in demand after the draft.

Bradfield was a three-year starter in college at 6-4 and over 300 pounds, so teams figured he was worth a look.

And he decided to pick the Jaguars, even though they seemed set at tackle with Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton, the team’s first two draft picks in 2009.

“I had a pre-draft visit with the Jaguars and met the staff and liked the vision they had,” Bradfield said.

The Jaguars wanted to look at him at tackle, and some teams wanted him to switch to guard. So he chose the Jaguars.

And Bradfield played well enough to make the team, although he took nothing for granted.

When the final cuts were made, he said he spent two days at the hotel biting his nails until he got the word that he made it.

He played nine games as a rookie and started twice, once when he got the word 90 minutes before game time in Pittsburgh because Monroe was out and Britton had back problems.

“I really didn’t have time to think about it by the time I found out I was going to be playing,” Bradfield said. “It was a pretty bizarre situation.”

This year, he came to camp as the fourth tackle behind Monroe, Britton and Guy Whimper.

But when guard Will Rackley went down at the start of camp, Britton moved to guard. Bradfield got the nod over Whimper at right tackle. Bradfield showed his versatility when he moved to left tackle when Monroe missed two games with a head injury. Bradfield also can play center.

“People are geared to what they’re geared to do, so I like playing tackle. But if I had to play center, I would have no problem doing that,” Bradfield said.

Now Monroe is back, and Bradfield is back at right tackle as part of the line the Jaguars figure to start the season with at Minnesota in two weeks. Britton and Uche Nwaneri will be the guards, and veteran Brad Meester will be the center.

They now have two weeks to get the continuity that is important for an offensive line.

“It’s very important,” Bradfield said of the line playing together.

Bradfield said it’s a great feeling to be a starter because he said that was his goal when he came in as an undrafted rookie.

But he takes nothing for granted.

“I’ll always have that chip on my shoulder about being undrafted,” Bradfield said.

He’ll work alongside Nwaneri, and they already seem to be developing a rapport.

“He’s an athletic, strong player, and he has physical abilities that not everybody has. He’s been able to improve his game, and I think he’s ready for an opportunity to go out there and play,” Nwaneri said of Bradfield.

Nwaneri thinks the Jaguars can have a very good line.

“I think the sky’s the limit,” Nwaneri said. “Our run game is something that is a staple of the offense, and the passing attack is becoming a threat. I feel like we really have a strong group of athletic and physical players across the board.”

And after mixing and matching for the first month of camp because of injuries, he thinks the line will hone its ability to work as a unit.

And they’ll play a quarter together in the final preseason game against Atlanta on Thursday night at EverBank Field.

Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey said, “Really, you’ve got the first full week of what we think is our starting offensive line working together to hopefully get a good couple of series in the game.”

How can you blame Gene Smith for finding talent? If the guy's good enough to start, then he's good enough to start. Would you feel better if we brought back Pashos? How about sticking Manuwai back in the line?

Do we have to go down the list of all the extremely successful Div II guys out there? How about the UDFA's that make rosters every year?

I'm still waiting for your top 10 list BTW? I thought you had it 'at the tip of your tongue'? (however forked it may be)

Anyone would be a valid replacement for WHIFF WHIMPER...the fact that he is still around indicates how truly sparse backup talent is on the line. Between Whiff and Lewis, Gabbert is EZ pickins. The Ravens exposed how inept the Jags O line truly is. And I dont believe it takes a rocket scientist to see that.

Bradfield has played like a starting OT in the NFL this preseason. He's head and shoulders above the human turnstile, Guy Whimper. That starting five of Monroe, Britton, Meester, Nwaneri and Bradfield should be solid.